Blog. London Marathon 3rd October 2022

Adam Hersey 

Sales and Events Manager at Herbert Berger at Innholders Hall 

“Running the London marathon has always been an ambition of mine. When I knew that there was an opportunity to run for Hospitality Action, a charity very close to my heart, I jumped at the chance.

Race day was very special, George, my HA teammate, and I, met at Blackheath and started in blue wave 13, the first 10k was a powerful hour or so as we shared our motivations with one another and discovered that we, along with so many others in our industry, have struggled at times during our careers. I was so proud of George telling me his story, and thankful, in turn, that he listened to mine.

The full experience of the London Marathon kicked in for me soon after. The noise and shouts from the crowd, the internal battle to maintain your pace and to block out pain, and most importantly, enjoying the challenge!

I was running for every single person who, like me, has found themselves in a dark place, whilst working in our beautiful, but often brutal and unforgiving industry. I want people to know that help is there if you need it. Hospitality Action offer amazing support. So please reach out! #wevegotyou!”

George Lee 

Sales Manager, Ellis Wine

“Marathon day really was all it was hyped up to be. I was a bundle of nerves and excitement all morning, from the moment I woke up to the very second, I passed the start line. The crowd were unbelievable all the way through, and definitely gave me a lift in those moments I needed it. Other than seeing my friends and family on route, two of the biggest moments for me were running over Tower Bridge – the bridge I looked at every day when I worked in a restaurant on Butler’s Wharf. The other being running up The Mall, with my Sri Lankan flag – a little homage to my grandfather who carried the (then Ceylon) flag at the Queen’s coronation.

Hospitality is a big thing in my family, with a long history of working in and owning pubs, hotels, and restaurants. The reason I wanted to raise money for Hospitality Action was because of my own experiences working in the industry. I have always struggled with my mental health, and some of the more difficult moments were when I was working in restaurants. I also worked with many colleagues who struggled with addictions of all kinds. The industry has given me so much, so I wanted to give back to it, and try and help those who face similar challenges to those that I and my colleagues did. Throughout my training, and on the day, I kept reminding myself that I was running for that George, and everyone like him, who needs the support that Hospitality Action provide.”

Mike Gardner

Managing Director, Appetite4Work

“What a day!  The first half felt great running through Blackheath and Greenwich getting cheered on and high fiving the little kids was a joy.  Following the highlight of passing over Tower Bridge and passing half way it got really tough. From then on it was a real battle to keep going and I don’t think you can ever fully comprehend quite how hard it’s going to be until you do it!  The last 3 miles seemed to go on forever, but the relief to get across the finishing line and knowing you were done was just immense.

I chose Hospitality Action because I saw first had through the pandemic how they really stepped in to help people in trouble. Hospitality has given me my career for over 25 years and it just feels like the right thing to do to give something back particularly with the hard times likely to be around the next corner.”

Can you tell us a little about your two recipes in our Chefs at Home cookbook? 

I wanted to include my ‘Masala Roti with turmeric & chili scrambled eggs’ recipe as scrambled eggs is my go-to meal, day or night. I pair it with anything – a wrap, a sandwich, or even inside a tea cake! My favourite thing to have them with is a masala roti (Rajasthani spiced flat breads), and during the pandemic, people were looking for cheap dishes that had versality and were full of nutrition – I thought this was perfect to include.

Everyone missed their families in the pandemic, and I was no exception. I found myself eager to cook my second recipe - lentil & basmati kichri with burnt aubergine relish – which was a staple dish that my mother cooked every weekend I was growing up, and I found myself recreating this with my children in lockdown which was really wholesome for me, and that’s why I wanted to include it. 

What inspired you to host a fundraising dinner at Cinnamon Kitchen?

As I previously mentioned, Hospitality Action is such a fantastic charity, and they had such huge success with the Chefs at Home cookbook. We were inspired by the momentum it gained, and I wanted to continue the support for the charity as they helped the industry so much during the pandemic. It’s simply a way to say thank you for helping us get back on our feet, and I am sure my fellow chefs participating in the dinner feel the same.